Elopidae (Tarpons)
Megalops atlanticus
0 to 60 ft
Tarpon are easily distinguished by their shiny, silver coloring and large scales. The mouth is large with the lower jaw projecting. The body is thinner than it is wide, and is slightly elongated. There is a long filament trailing from the base of the dorsal fin, although this is usually difficult to see. Tarpon can be quite large, growing up to 8 feet (2.4 m) in length. Tarpon are common throughout the Caribbean, including in the Cayman Islands. They inhabit shallow coastal waters, bays, estuaries and coral reefs, where they spend daylight hours drifting or hanging somewhat motionless in schools. When feeding, usually at night, they become quite active, making rapid bursts through schools of smaller fish, like silversides. Large schools of tarpon have been known to inhabit one particular area for years, such as the schools found at Bonnie's Arch and Tarpon Alley in Grand Cayman.
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